Karachi, Leaders from the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) and Green Crescent Trust (GCT) have proposed a collaborative approach with the newly elected federal and provincial governments to reform the financial management of education budgets. The offer aims to increase accountability and transparency in the allocation and utilization of funds designated for public schooling, potentially transforming educational outcomes for underprivileged students.
According to Green Crescent Trust, the joint proposal was put forward by SAF Chairman Shahid Afridi and GCT CEO Zahid Afridi during a fundraising event for both organizations. They highlighted the inefficiencies in the current government schooling system, particularly in Sindh, where substantial funds are spent with minimal impact on educational quality. Zahid Afridi detailed their successful low-cost model which has significantly improved student performance in their charitable schools, suggesting this approach could be replicated on a larger scale to benefit government-run schools.
The CEOs of both charities expressed their readiness to assist the federal and provincial governments in implementing systems that would ensure more effective use of the educational budgets. Zahid Afridi illustrated the contrast in spending and outcomes, noting that their schools spend less but achieve higher academic success, with up to 60% of students attaining top grades.
Moreover, the event also served as a platform for discussing broader educational strategies, including the expansion of the GCT’s network of schools in Sindh, which aims to serve 100,000 children by 2025. Shahid Afridi emphasized the importance of education for girls, linking female literacy to broader educational gains within families.
The dialogue underscored the potential for public-private partnerships to address educational challenges, as echoed by Abdul Kabir Kazi of the Sindh Education Foundation, who advocated for increased collaboration between the government, NGOs, and other stakeholders to accelerate the establishment of new educational facilities, especially in underserved areas.